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INFECTIOUS DISEASES
the notification rates and death-rates of the principal infectious diseases in
London are shown in Tables 3, 4 and 9 (pages 181,182,186): Table 3 shows both rates
for the constituent Metropolitan Boroughs in 1955 ; Table 4 shows death rates since
1906 for the County as a whole; and Table 9, notification rates for the County since
1934. In order to preserve uniformity with national statistics the notification figures
used in this section of the report have been corrected as far as possible to take account
of changes of diagnosis made after the original notifications had been received (see
footnote to Table 9). Table 10 (page 187) shows, in age groups, the distribution over
the year of the notifications of the following—dysentery, measles, meningococcal
infection, pneumonia, poliomyelitis, scarlet fever and whooping cough. It should be
noted that the total in this Table, being for 52 weekly periods and not adjusted
for final late corrections of diagnosis, will not correspond with the yearly corrected
totals in Table 9.
Anthrax
Diarrhoea and
Enteritis
There were no notifications of anthrax during 1955.
There were 27 deaths from diarrhoea and enteritis under the age of 2 years. The
number of deaths from this cause had been 43 in 1952, 72 in 1953 and 24 in 1954. The
figures in 1952 and 1953 had been comparatively high as a result of a number of cases
of enteritis associated with the upper respiratory infections resulting from the severe fog
in December, 1952. It will be seen from the diagram below that the death rate from
enteritis now seems to have resumed the trend that was temporarily upset by the fog.
The change that has occurred in this rate during the last few years is one of the most
remarkable features of post-war vital statistics.
Diphtheria
After a period of two years without a death from diphtheria there were two deaths
from this disease during 1955. One was a boy aged four years and the other an eight
year old girl. The parents of both these children had repeatedly refused the offer of
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